Aroma Characteristics of Lavender Extract and Essential Oil from Lavandula angustifolia Mill

Phenolic Compounds and Pharmacological Potential of Lavandula angustifolia Extracts for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

The search for neuroprotective compounds in lavender is driven by its traditional use for brain health, with antioxidant activity serving as a key mechanism in reducing oxidative stress and supporting cognitive function. Lavender's potential to protect neurons is based on its calming, anti-stress properties, which increase the brain's resistance to neurodegeneration. Although lavender is not a traditional medicinal plant in Ukraine, it is increasingly recognised for its medicinal properties and is widely cultivated in the country. Lavender use in Ukraine is influenced by both global herbal practices and local medical traditions. The aim of this study was to optimise the preparation of lavender herb extracts, perform chemical profiling and evaluate their antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. The study focused on Lavandula angustifolia cultivated in Lviv, Ukraine. Modern analytical methods were used, including HPLC, spectrophotometry, molecular docking, lyophilisation and pharmacological testing. The selection of the optimal conditions for obtaining lavender herb extracts was determined on the basis of the results of the total yield of phenolic compounds in each extract, where it was found that the raw material-solvent ratio (1:10) in water and 50% ethanol gave the highest yield of substances; the preferred extraction time was 20 min, and the temperature was 60-70 °C, especially for water extraction. Further HPLC analysis identified marker compounds including rosmarinic acid (28.31 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (1.64 mg/g) and luteolin (0.23 mg/g) in the lyophilised ethanol extract, which were previously recognised as neuroprotective markers by molecular docking. The water extract showed higher antioxidant (total 50.85 mg/g) and neuroprotective activity, probably due to synergistic interactions among the components. Behavioural tests further demonstrated the neuroprotective potential of lavender herb. These results demonstrate the potential neuroprotective activity of lavender herb and open new possibilities for its use in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Characterization of the volatile compounds in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flowers during blooming

Tea flower, with characteristic flavor formed during blooming, are a significant tea resource. However, studies on the volatile compounds of tea flower and their aroma characteristics during flowering are scarce. In this study, the odor characteristics of tea flower during blooming were comprehensively investigated by GC-MS, PCA, ACI determination and sensory evaluation. The tea flower of unopened buds (TF-S1) contained the highest alcohol amounts, while fully opened tea flowers (TF-S3) had the highest heterocyclic compounds. Half-opened tea flowers (TF-S2) had the most volatile compounds, including high levels of linalool and its oxides, and low levels of (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol. Acetoin and cosmene were first identified in TF-S1 and TF-S2, respectively. The major ACI components differed, with linalool being prominent exhibiting ACI above 27 in all samples. Acetophenone, unique to TF-S2 with ACI of 57.35, contributed to sweet odor. Furthermore, PCA analysis and sensory evaluation revealed distinct aroma characteristics among the samples. Overall, TF-S2 and TF-S3 had higher volatile amounts and better aroma properties with floral, powdery or almond-like odors. These results advance the understanding of aroma properties of tea flower during blooming, and provide a reference for resource utilization and promotion of the application in food or cosmetics industries.

Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from Five Varieties of Lavender Extracted via Supercritical Fluid Extraction

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of five Lavender essential oils (LEOs) using the gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy technique and to assess their antibacterial activity against four marine Vibrio species, including Shewanella algae, Shewanella maridflavi, Vibrio harveyi, and Vibrio alginolyticus. Sensitivity tests were performed using the disk diffusion and serial dilution methods. The results showed that all five LEOs exhibited antibacterial activity against the four tested marine Vibrio species. The antibacterial activities of all five LEOs were above moderate sensitivity. The five LEOs from French blue, space blue, eye-catching, and true Lavender showed high sensitivity, particularly against Shewanella maridflavi. The compounds of LEOs from different varieties of Lavender were similar and mainly comprised linalool, linalyl acetate, eucalyptol, and isoborneol. Different varieties of LEOs possessed unique components besides common components, and the percentage of each one was different, which led to different fragrance loads. The major fragrances were lily of the valley, an aromatic compound fragrance, and an herbal fragrance. The antibacterial activity of LEO from eye-catching Lavender was better than that of others, which could provide a reference for its application in the prevention and control of marine Vibrio spp. and the development of antibacterial products.

Lavender and Black Pine Waste as Additives Enhancing Selected Mechanical and Hygrothermal Properties of Cement Mortars

The paper presents the mechanical and hygrothermal properties of cement mortars containing bio-powders made from lavender waste and black pine wood. The wastes were mechanically ground with a hammer mill to a fraction not exceeding 0.5 mm and then dried in air-dry conditions. The influence of bio-additives in amounts of 1.5% and 2.5% of the overall mortar volume was tested. The aim of the paper was to determine the impact of bio-additives on the mechanical and hygrothermal properties of the tested cement mortars. This publication included tests of compressive and flexural strength, elastic modulus, water absorption, absorption due to capillary rise, sorption and desorption properties, thermal properties, microstructural tests using mercury intrusion porosimetry and SEM, and EDS. The main conclusions of the research indicate that mortars with both 1.5% and 2.5% bio-powders are characterized by strong bactericidal properties, lower sorption properties at high air humidity, lower thermal conductivity, reduced compressive strength by 22-27%, no significant effect on the flexural strength, and significant reduction in capillary action of mortars both with short-term and long-term water exposure.

The mitochondrial genome of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae) sheds light on its genome structure and gene transfer between organelles

BACKGROUND

Lavandula angustifolia holds importance as an aromatic plant with extensive applications spanning the fragrance, perfume, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and spa sectors. Beyond its aesthetic and sensory applications, this plant offers medicinal benefits as a natural herbal remedy and finds use in household cleaning products. While extensive genomic data, inclusive of plastid and nuclear genomes, are available for this species, researchers have yet to characterize its mitochondrial genome. This gap in knowledge hampers deeper understanding of the genome organization and its evolutionary significance.

RESULTS

Through the course of this study, we successfully assembled and annotated the mitochondrial genome of L. angustifolia, marking a first in this domain. This assembled genome encompasses 61 genes, which comprise 34 protein-coding genes, 24 transfer RNA genes, and three ribosomal RNA genes. We identified a chloroplast sequence insertion into the mitogenome, which spans a length of 10,645 bp, accounting for 2.94% of the mitogenome size. Within these inserted sequences, there are seven intact tRNA genes (trnH-GUG, trnW-CCA, trnD-GUC, trnS-GGA, trnN-GUU, trnT-GGU, trnP-UGG) and four complete protein-coding genes (psbA, rps15, petL, petG) of chloroplast derivation. Additional discoveries include 88 microsatellites, 15 tandem repeats, 74 palindromic repeats, and 87 forward long repeats. An RNA editing analysis highlighted an elevated count of editing sites in the cytochrome c oxidase genes, notably ccmB with 34 editing sites, ccmFN with 32, and ccmC with 29. All protein-coding genes showed evidence of cytidine-to-uracil conversion. A phylogenetic analysis, utilizing common protein-coding genes from 23 Lamiales species, yielded a tree with consistent topology, supported by high confidence values.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the current mitogenome resource revealed its typical circular genome structure. Notably, sequences originally from the chloroplast genome were found within the mitogenome, pointing to the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer between organelles. This assembled mitogenome stands as a valuable resource for subsequent studies on mitogenome structures, their evolution, and molecular biology.

Variations in the biochemical characteristics of Lavandula sublepidota Rech.f. in response to the foliar enrichment of green-synthesized copper nano complexes from extract of neem and jujube

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient in plant physiology and biochemistry. This article synthesized copper nano complexes (Cu-NCs) based on aqueous extracts of jujube and neem leaves. The effects of foliar application of Cu-jujube and Cu-neem Cu-NCs at concentrations of 0, 10, 25, and 50 mg L-1 on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and essential oil of the Iranian native medicinal herb Lavandula sublepidota Rech. f. was investigated. The highest levels of flavonoids and polyphenols were observed in the plants treated with Cu-NCs at 25 mg L-1. However, no superiority was observed between the two types of Cu-NCs. Furthermore, 25 mg L-1 nCu-Z and nCu-N foliar application boosted essential oil yield (48 and 52%, respectively) over control. This suggests an ideal threshold beyond which toxicity was found. Similarly, the amount of commercially significant secondary metabolites increased at 25 mg L-1 CuNCs compared to 10 and 50 mg L-1 concentrations. The maximum antioxidant activity was found in extracts of lavender that had been treated with 25 mg L-1 CuNCs. When CuNCs were applied exogenously, the extracts' antibacterial activity (MIC μg mL-1) was substantially increased against the three pathogen strains. The results suggest that CuNCs demonstrate notably greater effectiveness, particularly at an ideal concentration of 25 mg L-1, in enhancing the production of essential oil and bioactive compounds in Lavandula sublepidota Rech. f. Therefore, these findings indicate the importance of the biosynthesis of NCs using plants and measuring the phytochemical changes of lavender plants.

Comparative analysis of the differences in volatile organic components of three lavender essential oils in Ili region using sensory evaluation, GC-IMS and GC-MS techniques

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a widely utilized aromatic plant, with the economic value of its essential oil (EO) largely dependent on its aroma. This study investigated the differences in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the EOs of three species of lavender (H70-1, French blue, Taikong blue) in Ili region from 2019 to 2023 with the combination of sensory evaluation, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO from Taikong blue lavender exhibited greater stability in VOC composition compared to the other two varieties. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) effectively distinguished the aromas of the three EOs aroma. Combining odor activity value (OAV) and variable importance in projection (VIP) values identified five VOCs crucial for discriminating among the three lavender EO types. This study provides theoretical support for the cultivation and commercialization of lavender as an industrial crop, as well as for quality control of EO production in the Ili region.

Multistep Approach Points to Compounds Responsible for the Biological Activity and Safety of Hydrolates from Nine Lamiaceae Medicinal Plants on Human Skin Fibroblasts

As byproducts of essential oil distillation, hydrolates are used in natural cosmetics/biomedicine due to their beneficial skin effects. However, data on their safety with relevant biological targets, such as human skin cells, are scarce. Therefore, we have tested nine hydrolates from the Lamiaceae family with skin fibroblasts that are responsible for extracellular collagenous matrix builds. Thyme, oregano, and winter savoury hydrolates showed several times higher total phenolics, which correlated strongly with their radical scavenging and antioxidative capacity; there was no correlation between their viability profiles and the reducing sugar levels. No proteins/peptides were detected. All hydrolates appeared safe for prolonged skin exposure except for 10-fold diluted lavender, which showed cytotoxicity (~20%), as well as rosemary and lavandin (~10%) using viability, DNA synthesis, and cell count testing. Clary sage, oregano, lemon balm, and thyme hydrolates (10-fold diluted) increased fibroblast viability and/or proliferation by 10-30% compared with the control, while their viability remained unaffected by Mentha and winter savoury. In line with the STITCH database, increased viability could be attributed to thymol presence in oregano and thyme hydrolates in lemon balm, which is most likely attributable to neral and geranial. The proliferative effect of clary sage could be supported by alpha-terpineol, not linalool. The major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts were borneol, 1,8-cineole, and terpinene-4-ol. Further research with pure compounds is warranted to confirm the roles of VOCs in the observed effects that are relevant to cosmetic and wound healing aspects.

Functionalized gum acacia-activated carbon-CaO/NiO nanocomposite for potential photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants from water

A functionalized gum acacia-activated carbon-CaO/NiO nanocomposite was synthesized using an eco-friendly sol-gel method. The formed nanocomposite was designed to apply various light sources to enhance the improved removal of organic dyes such as methylene blue, methyl orange, methyl red, and rhodamine B from aqueous media. The band gap energies of CaO, NiO nanoparticles and gum acacia-activated carbon were 3.54, 4.28, and 5.34 eV, respectively, corresponding to a reflection edge of 350, 290, and 232 nm, respectively. The surface area of the synthesized nanocomposite was measured to be 17.892 m2 g-1. Sunlight and 20 mg L-1 of the nanocomposite quenched the dyes (methylene blue, 99.7%; methyl orange, 98.3%; methyl red, 96.7%; and rhodamine B, 93.5%) after 120, 100, 100, and 75 min of irradiation, respectively. However, after 80, 100, 100, and 75 min, the percentage of dyes under UV light irradiation was 98.6%, 95.8%, 98.4%, and 94.2% for methylene blue, methyl orange, methyl red, and rhodamine B, respectively. The nanocomposite showed excellent stability after five cycles of dye reduction.

Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Early Palliative Care for Oncology Patients: Blind Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is the active holistic treatment of people of all ages who have serious health-related suffering as a result of severe illness, and especially of those who are close to the end of life. Palliative care is provided to cancer patients who experience serious suffering that cannot be relieved without professional intervention and that compromises physical, social, spiritual, and emotional functioning. A straightforward, low-risk, and affordable palliative care approach may be provided through aromatherapy, a type of complementary and alternative medicine. The study objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness of massage, aromatherapy massage, and massage combined with aromatherapy inhalation on cancer patients receiving palliative care.

METHODS

A total of 100 participants who were divided into four groups at random. The first group, designated as the control group, received standard hospital nursing care, the second group received massage only (using the odorless almond carrier oil), the third group received massage with lavender oil, and the fourth group received combined (inhalation and massage) aromatherapy. The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL), given two weeks after aromatherapy, was used to examine participants' perspectives of care.

RESULTS

On the RSCL, combined aromatherapy performed best. In terms of reported physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and activities, there were statistically significant differences between the scores of the control group and each of the experimental groups. Nonetheless, the total quality of life score showed no significant difference between the control group and the massage only group (t = 0.529, p = 0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

When paired with aromatherapy inhalation, massage has a positive effect on physical, psychological symptoms, activities, and overall quality of life for cancer patients receiving early palliative care. Nurses and other healthcare providers are recommended to support programs that provide message therapy to reduce reported bodily symptoms, psychological problems, and limited activities among cancer patients.

Aroma Components in Horticultural Crops: Chemical Diversity and Usage of Metabolic Engineering for Industrial Applications

Plants produce an incredible variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that assist the interactions with their environment, such as attracting pollinating insects and seed dispersers and defense against herbivores, pathogens, and parasites. Furthermore, VOCs have a significant economic impact on crop quality, as well as the beverage, food, perfume, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries. These VOCs are mainly classified as terpenoids, benzenoids/phenylpropanes, and fatty acid derivates. Fruits and vegetables are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, while aroma compounds play a major role in flavor and quality management of these horticultural commodities. Subtle shifts in aroma compounds can dramatically alter the flavor and texture of fruits and vegetables, altering their consumer appeal. Rapid innovations in -omics techniques have led to the isolation of genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of several volatiles, which has aided to our comprehension of the regulatory molecular pathways involved in VOC production. The present review focuses on the significance of aroma volatiles to the flavor and aroma profile of horticultural crops and addresses the industrial applications of plant-derived volatile terpenoids, particularly in food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biofuel industries. Additionally, the methodological constraints and complexities that limit the transition from gene selection to host organisms and from laboratories to practical implementation are discussed, along with metabolic engineering's potential for enhancing terpenoids volatile production at the industrial level.

Impact of Lavender Flower Powder as a Flavoring Ingredient on Volatile Composition and Quality Characteristics of Gouda-Type Cheese during Ripening

This study aimed to formulate a Gouda-type cheese from cow's milk, flavored with lavender flower powder (0.5 g/L matured milk), ripened for 30 days at 14 °C and 85% relative humidity. Physicochemical, microbiological, and textural characteristics, as well as the volatile composition of the control (CC-cheese without lavender) and lavender cheese (LC), were assessed at 10-day intervals of ripening. Consumers' perception, acceptance, and purchase intention were only evaluated for ripened cheeses. Moisture and carbohydrate contents, the pH, cohesiveness, indexes of springiness and chewiness decreased during ripening in both CC and LC; however, protein, ash, and sodium chloride contents, titratable acidity, hardness, lactobacilli, streptococci, and volatiles increased. Fat and fat in dry matter contents, respectively, the energy value did not vary with ripening time in LC and increased in CC; gumminess decreased in CC and did not change in LC. Lavender flower powder significantly affected the cheese's microbiological and sensory characteristics and volatile composition but did not considerably impact physicochemical and textural ones. Populations of lactobacilli and streptococci were substantially higher in LC compared to CC. The volatile profile of LC was dominated by terpene and terpenoids, and that of CC by haloalkanes. Sensory scores were slightly lower for LC than CC, even if it did not considerably affect consumers' acceptance and purchase intention.

Solid-phase extraction based on PDMS/ionic liquid sponge followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for rapid and sensitive determination of volatile components in lavender

INTRODUCTION

Due to the complexity and the low concentrations of volatile components in aromatic plants, sample pretreatment is an important step in the whole analytical procedure.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to propose a novel, sensitive and fast approach to determine the volatile components in lavender.

METHODS

The 1-butyl-3-(propyltrimethoxysilane)imidazolium chloride ([BPtmsim]Cl) ionic liquid was introduced onto the surface of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to prepare a novel PDMS/[BPtmsim]Cl sponge with large surface area, good sorption performance, and reusability. A solid-phase extraction method was developed based on PDMS/[BPtmsim]Cl sponge combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULTS

The effects of the various experimental parameters on the extraction efficiency were investigated. The optimal conditions were [BPtmsim]Cl amount of 0.3 g, 1:4 as the mass ratio of PDMS/[BPtmsim]Cl to lavender sample, microwave power of 700 W, microwave time of 10 min, and n-hexane as the desorption solvent. The method validation results showed good linearity (10-800 μg/ml), high correlation coefficient (R²  ≥ 0.9991), low limits of detection (1.73-2.50 ng/μl), and limits of quantification (4.10-5.11 ng/μl). The interday and intraday precision with relative standard deviation (RSD) values were below 1.93% and 4.71%, respectively. Under the optimal extraction conditions, 16 lavender samples from three different species were analysed and a total of 57 volatile compounds were identified. The correlation between different species of lavender and volatile components was explored using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that PDMS/[BPtmsim]Cl extraction is a rapid, highly efficient, and sensitive technique for the determination of volatile components in complex plant samples.

Comparative Study for Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Ambroxol Hydrochloride Using Aluminum Metal Transfer Chelation Complex and Biogenic Synthesis of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles Using Lavandula spica Flowers Extract

The existing study pronounces two newly developed spectrofluorimetric probes for the assay of ambroxol hydrochloride in its authentic and commercial formulations using an aluminum chelating complex and a biogenically mediated and synthesized aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃NPs) from Lavandula spica flower extract. The first probe is based on the formation of an aluminum charge transfer complex. However, the second probe is based on the effect of the unique optical characteristics of Al₂O₃NPs in the enhancement of fluorescence detection. The biogenically synthesized Al₂O₃NPs were confirmed using various spectroscopic and microscopic investigations. The fluorescence detections in the two probes were measured at a λ_ex of 260 and 244 and a λ_em of 460 and 369 nm for the two suggested probes, respectively. The findings showed that the fluorescence intensity (FI) covered linear concentration ranges of 0.1-200 ng mL^-1 and 1.0-100 ng mL^-1 with a regression of ˃0.999 for AMH-Al₂O₃NPs-SDS and AMH-Al(NO₃)₃-SDS, respectively. The lower detection and quantification limits were evaluated and found to be 0.04 and 0.1 ng mL^-1 and 0.7 and 0.1 ng/mL^-1 for the abovementioned fluorescence probes, respectively. The two suggested probes were successfully applied for the assay of ambroxol hydrochloride (AMH) with excellent percentage recoveries of 99.65% and 99.85%, respectively. Excipients such as glycerol and benzoic acid used as additives in pharmaceutical preparations, several common cations, and amino acids, as well as sugars, were all found to have no interference with the approach.

Basic sensory properties of essential oils from aromatic plants and their applications: a critical review

With higher standards in terms of diet and leisure enjoyment, spices and essential oils of aromatic plants (APEOs) are no longer confined to the food industry. The essential oils (EOs) produced from them are the active ingredients that contribute to different flavors. The multiple odor sensory properties and their taste characteristics of APEOs are responsible for their widespread use. The research on the flavor of APEOs is an evolving process attracting the attention among scientists in the past decades. For APEOs, which are used for a long time in the catering and leisure industries, it is necessary to analyze the components associated with the aromas and the tastes. It is important to identify the volatile components and assure quality of APEOs in order to expand their application. It is worth celebrating the different means by which the loss of flavor of APEOs can be retarded in practice. Unfortunately, relatively little research has been done on the structure and flavor mechanisms of APEOs. This also points the way to future research on APEOs.Therefore, this paper reviews the principles of flavor, identification of components and sensory pathways in humans for APEOs. Moreover, the article outlines the means of increasing the efficiency of using of APEOs. Finally, with respect to the sensory applications of APEOs, the review focuses on the practical application of APEOs in food sector and in aromatherapy.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir Extracts: A Comparison between Callus Culture and Native Plant

Nowadays, according to the development and high functions of in vitro cultivation, one of the questions that researchers are looking for is whether the characteristics and compositions of the obtained product meet the needs of the society or not. Therefore, this research was done aimed to compare the bioactive characteristics of callus and native plant aqueous extracts of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir. Thus, two different culture media were utilized for calluses’ growth. Extracts from these calluses and native plants were obtained using the sequential ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction (SUMAE) method. The extraction conditions were a constant temperature of 70°C ultrasound in 20 min at 250 W and 8 minutes at 800 W for microwave at 85°C. At first, results revealed that callus cultures were not able to produce any significant amounts of essential oil. Therefore, aqueous extracts obtained from calluses as well as the natural plant were examined in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antimicrobial activity. Moreover, their volatile components were detected with GC-MS. Both DPPH and FRAP techniques demonstrated that the callus on MS + Auxin had stronger antioxidant activity than the other callus and native plant. It also had the greatest total phenolic content. In terms of total flavonoid content, the native plant has the highest value. Generally, it can be concluded that the extract of callus on MS + Auxin has shown significant activity against the tested microorganisms than the other samples.

Exploring the Chemical Composition of Bulgarian Lavender Absolute (Lavandula Angustifolia Mill.) by GC/MS and GC-FID

Lavender (L. angustifolia Mill.) is an important essential oil-bearing and medicinal plant with high commercial value. Lavender scent components can be derived not only as an essential oil but also as lavender concrete or absolute. The development of reliable analytical methods for origin assessment and quality assurance is of significant fundamental importance and high practical interest. Therefore, a comprehensive chemical profiling of seven industrial samples of Bulgarian lavender absolute (L. angustifolia Mill.) was performed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). As a result, 111 individual compounds were identified by GC/MS, and their quantitative content was simultaneously determined by GC-FID, representing 94.28-97.43% of the total contents of the lavender absolute. According to our results, the main constituents of lavender absolute (LA) are representatives of the terpene compounds (with the dominating presence of oxygenated monoterpenes, 52.83-80.55%), followed by sesquiterpenes (7.80-15.21%) and triterpenoids (as minor components). Coumarins in various amounts (1.79-14.73%) and aliphatic compounds (hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, etc.) are found, as well. The acyclic monoterpene linalool is the main terpene alcohol and, together with its ester linalyl acetate, are the two main constituents in the LAs. Linalool was found in concentrations of 27.33-38.24% in the LA1-LA6 samples and 20.74% in the LA7 samples. The amount of linalyl acetate was in the range of 26.58 to 37.39% in the LA1-LA6 samples, while, surprisingly, it was not observed in LA7. This study shows that the chemical profile of the studied LAs is close to the lavender essential oil (LO), fulfilling most of the requirements of the International Standard ISO 3515:2002.

Effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing duration of labour: a systematic review

Childbirth is one of the most important events in woman's life. Different methods are typically used for labour augmentation. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary methods. The present systematic review evaluated the efficacy of aromatherapy in reducing the duration of labour. A systematic search of all clinical trials studies on Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Google scholar, Irandoc, Science direct, Magiran and Sid was performed up to September 2021. A total of 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and 3234 women used a variety of aromatherapies. Results showed that some aromatherapies, such as lavender was almost effective in reducing length of labour. Results suggest that some aromatherapy can be an effective, inexpensive and holistic method of reducing the duration of labour but it should be used with caution.

Polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide/β-cyclodextrin sponge as a solid-phase extraction sorbent coupled with GC-MS for rapid adsorption and sensitive determination of lavender essential oil

An adsorbent polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide/β-cyclodextrin sponge, which possessed the merits of high surface area, chemical stability, environment friendly and excellent extraction capacity, was successfully fabricated. Based on the advantages, a novel microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase extraction method for lavender essential oil using polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide/β-cyclodextrin sponge as adsorbents was developed in this study. Various experimental parameters were studied. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: 1 mg mL^-1 as dopamine solution concentration, graphene oxide dosages of 30 mg, microwave power of 700 W, microwave irradiation time of 10 min and desorption solvent of n-hexane. Under the optimal extraction condition, linearities ranging from 10 to 800 ng were achieved for six representative compounds with the correlation coefficients value of >0.99. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were in the ranges of 0.40-1.56% and 0.67-2.56%, respectively. Finally, the proposed technique was applied to analyze essential oil constituents in 14 samples of three lavender varieties, and 48 compounds were identified. Lavender varieties were distinguished using principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis. The results showed that the mothed developed in this study is a novel, simple, and sensitive method for the determination of essential oil in complex plant samples. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Floral Scents and Fruit Aromas: Functions, Compositions, Biosynthesis, and Regulation

Floral scents and fruit aromas are crucial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plants. They are used in defense mechanisms, along with mechanisms to attract pollinators and seed dispersers. In addition, they are economically important for the quality of crops, as well as quality in the perfume, cosmetics, food, drink, and pharmaceutical industries. Floral scents and fruit aromas share many volatile organic compounds in flowers and fruits. Volatile compounds are classified as terpenoids, phenylpropanoids/benzenoids, fatty acid derivatives, and amino acid derivatives. Many genes and transcription factors regulating the synthesis of volatiles have been discovered. In this review, we summarize recent progress in volatile function, composition, biosynthetic pathway, and metabolism regulation. We also discuss unresolved issues and research perspectives, providing insight into improvements and applications of plant VOCs.

Molecular Distillation of Lavender Supercritical Extracts: Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Feedstocks and Assessment of Distillates Enriched with Oxygenated Fragrance Components

Lavandula angustifolia is one of the most widely cultivated non-food crops used in the production of essential oil; it is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, pharmaceutical preparations, and food ingredients. In this study, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and molecular distillation (MD) were combined, primarily to enrich scCO2 extracts with lavender oxygenated monoterpenes, avoiding thermal degradation, hydrolysis, and solvent contamination, and maintaining the natural characteristics of the obtained oils. Molecular distillation was developed for the first time for the extraction of crucial lavender fragrance ingredients, i.e., from two scCO2 extracts obtained from dry flower stems of lavender cultivated in Poland and Bulgaria. The best results for high-quality distillates were obtained at 85 °C (EVT) and confirmed that linalyl acetate content increased from 51.54 mg/g (initial Bulgarian lavender extract, L-Bg-E) and 89.53 mg/g (initial Polish lavender extract, L-Pl-E) to 118.41 and 185.42 mg/g, respectively, corresponding to increases of 2.3 and 2.1 times in both distillate streams, respectively. The distillates, light oils, and extracts from lavender were also evaluated for their antimicrobial properties by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the broth microdilution method. Generally, Gram-positive bacteria and Candida spp. were more sensitive to all distilled fractions and extracts than Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria).

Flavoring and extending the shelf life of cucumber juice with aroma compounds-rich herbal extracts at 4 °C through controlling chemical and microbial fluctuations

This work aims to enhance the flavor of functional cucumber juice using herbal extracts of peppermint, basil, lavender, and lemongrass ethanolic extracts and extend its lifetime by controlling the chemical and microbial fluctuations. Cucumber juices were processed as; non-supplemented (J-Con), J-PME, J-BE, J-LE, and J-LEE supplemented with peppermint, basil, lavender, and lemongrass ethanolic extracts, respectively. Peppermint extract was significantly scavenged 88% of DPPH radicals and inhibited the growth of tested gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi followed by the lemongrass extract. The antioxidant activity of cucumber juices increased due to polyphenols and aroma compounds in the added extracts. However, the antioxidant content was decreased after two months of storage at 4 °C, due to the decrease in polyphenols. The flavor compounds were determined using GC mass, wherein hydrocarbons, acids, alcohols, and carbonyl compounds were the main aroma contents in cucumber juices, and their contents decreased with storage time. Peppermint and lemongrass extracts were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the whiteness of J-PME, and J-LEE, respectively. The highest score of flavor and taste was observed in J-PME that scored 8.3 based on panelists' reports followed by J-LEE. The PME was significantly maintained 91% of the odor and color of J-PME as compared to other juices.

Plant-Derived Substances with Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Flavoring Potential to Formulate Oral Health Care Products

Bacterial diseases and reactive oxygen species can cause dental caries and oral cancer. Therefore, the present review analyzes and discusses the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of synthetic and plant-derived substances and their current and future patents to formulate dental products. The reviewed evidence indicates that chlorhexidine, fluorides, and hydrogen peroxide have adverse effects on the sensory acceptability of oral care products. As an alternative, plant-derived substances have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can be used in their formulation. Also, adding plant metabolites favors the sensory acceptability of dental products compared with synthetic compounds. Therefore, plant-derived substances have antibacterial, antioxidant, and flavoring activity with the potential to be used in the formulation of toothpaste, mouth rinses, dentures cleansers-fixatives, and saliva substitutes.

Exploring Herbal Medicine Use during Palliative Cancer Care: The Integrative Physician as a Facilitator of Pharmacist-Patient-Oncologist Communication

Oncology patients frequently use herbal and other forms of complementary medicine, often without the knowledge of oncologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals responsible for their care. Oncology healthcare professionals may lack the knowledge needed to guide their patients on the safe and effective use of herbal medicinal products, a number of which have potentially harmful effects, which include direct toxicity and negative herb–drug interactions. The current review addresses the prevalence and expectations of oncology patients from herbal medicine, as well as evidence for the beneficial or harmful effects of this practice (potential and actual), especially when the herbal products are used in conjunction with anticancer agents. Models of integrative oncology care are described, in which open and effective communication among oncologists, pharmacists, and integrative physicians on the use of herbal medicine by their patients occurs. This collaboration provides patients with a nonjudgmental and multidisciplinary approach to integrative medicine, echoing their own health-belief models of care during conventional cancer treatments. The role of the integrative physician is to facilitate this process, working with oncologists and pharmacists in the fostering of patient-centered palliative care, while ensuring a safe and effective treatment environment. Case scenario: W. is a 56 year old female artist who was recently diagnosed with localized hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Following lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, she is scheduled to begin adjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen which will include adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (AC-T protocol). She is worried about developing peripheral neuropathy and its impact on her ability to paint, and she asks about a number of dietary supplements which she heard could prevent this from happening: omega-3, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, and acetyl-l-carnithine. She is concerned, however, that the supplements may negatively interact with her chemotherapy regimen.